The camping trip we took was truly a spiritual and physical journey of discovery. At the base camp meeting point, we met our “family” for the coming days. Then there was a frenzy of activity as we packed everything that we would need for the next five days and six nights into our hiking backpacks.
We started off the first night in a wooden shelter. We proceeded to retrieve the canoes the next morning and excitedly packed all our gear into them. Then we set off into the bright sun and paddled towards our camping spot for the weekend. Arriving Friday afternoon we had plenty of time to enjoy a refreshing swim at the beautiful campsite. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and had worship around the campfire before settling in for the night.
The next day we enjoyed Sabbath services outdoors, and focused on the topic, “The fear of the Lord.” In the afternoon we were challenged to write our personal testimony, leaving the others and finding a secluded spot for an hour to do so. This was a great blessing, spending personal time with the Lord in His wonderful creation. We trooped back to camp and had a testimony meeting to share what we had written. Tears were shed and personal discoveries were made as we drew closer to each other and to the Lord. Later many in our party expressed blessings gained from this time because knowing that the others went through similar experiences was faith building indeed.
The next day the rest of the party went on a 31-kilometre hike, from which they arrived back at twelve midnight. Their goal was to reach a bear shelter along the Appalachian Trail, which they accomplished by encouraging each other along the way. I myself enjoyed a relaxing nap and swim at the camp during this time, as I could not hike because of an injury which occurred the previous month. Manuela also was injured so she stayed behind, and my father was there to protect us.
At nightfall we grew concerned about the others on the hike, and started to pray for them. Our main worry was that they would not have many flashlights, and sure enough only three of them decided to bring them along. Three flashlights between ten people turned out to be just enough. We sang, prayed, and had worship; and I struck upon the idea of going down to the beach where there were no trees to look at the stars. What a blessing that turned out to be! Because of the lack of light pollution, the whole Milky Way was visible; it stretched like a white rainbow from horizon to horizon. We stayed there for some time thanking and praising God for His wonderful love in creating something so beautiful for us.
Upon returning to camp, we realised that the others had food, soap, and toothpaste which we would need to find and hang if we were going to sleep. Just earlier that day the ranger had come by to tell us that they were having a bear problem, and that we should hang anything with a scent in the trees at night. So we went on an hour-long hunt through all the tents, ransacking the other’s belongings. I was just drifting to sleep in my tent when ten ravenously hungry and exhausted hikers returned. There was no sleeping then; our travelers were back! Excitedly we exited our tents and welcomed them home.
The next day we packed up camp and reentered the canoes for our longest canoe trip yet—it was at least five hours long. Luckily we stopped halfway there on a picturesque beach for a break, a swim, and lunch. Upon arrival at our next camp, we were peppered with excitement about the night’s dinner: burritos! Continuing on with our “Fear of the Lord” topic, we got more in-depth as we related the topic to every area of our lives, including at home, what we eat, and in dress reform. Discussion was lively and pretty much everyone had something to add.
The next day we took a not so strenuous hike along a lovely creek, stopping to poke around in some old buildings. Apparently the area was once a booming town due to a nearby mill that created jobs. Our campsite was in the middle of what was once the baseball diamond.
On the last day Reina, who was the earliest riser, was enlisted to sound the alarm at 6:30 am, so that we could make it back in time to shower before dinner at the conference grounds. She awoke Andriana and Manuela, and they started singing songs loudly outside our tents. Soon Richard joined in, and even though I was so tired, the hilarity of their voices soon made me join in a joyful rendition of “Kum bay ya, my Lord.”
We packed camp and canoes in record time and had our last and final worship next to them. Each individual shared what they had gained from the trip. When it came to myself, I mentioned how I really believed that the world was ending so soon that we had no time, and that seeing Br. Christian Nelson’s faith in the same area was very strengthening. Then I broke down in tears because of the response of Br. Nelson, because he said how I was a different Sharon altogether from our first trip of this nature, which was now two trips ago. Everyone enjoyed this time of sharing and had something different and insightful to point out. Then we bundled into the canoes and took off for the marina, making it there in plenty of time to enjoy a quick hot shower before a wonderful dinner at the conference! Altogether the journey was very strengthening—spiritually as we journeyed through the topics Br. Christian had prepared, and physically as we took a physical journey. I would recommend such a trip to anyone!
Sharon Eaton